Letters from Sister Alston: August 2013

Hello from Iowa City, Dubuque, and Fairfield!

Wow....it has been one crazy week here in Iowa! I'll give you a run down:

Tuesday: Mission Leadership Council 8-5 in Iowa City

Wednesday: Zone Training Meeting in Iowa City with the Jensens

Thursday: Zone Training Meeting in Dubuque for the Clinton Zone where Sister Lloyd and I were asked to attend and train. (An hour and a half N. of IC)

Friday: Zone Training Meeting in Fairfield for the Washington and Fairfield Zones where Sister Lloyd and I were asked to attend and train. (An hour and a half S. of IC!)

so yep! We spent more time out of our area than we did in our area this week!...good thing Sister Campbell is a champion and was able to stay with another sister and keep the work going here in Iowa City while we were away. All the meetings were wonderful and it was so fun to train with Sister Lloyd, who has been out 14 months and is incredible; I learn more from her each day.

MIRACLE: So during the meeting in Fairfield on Friday I got the impression that we needed to stop in LoneTree on our way home. ( A tiny town on the outer part of our area that we've never been to ). We had received a media referral for a lady and hadn't had the chance to follow up with her. So on the way home, we detour through LoneTree and knock on her door. Her daughter answers, she comes to the door and is immediately so excited and grateful that we were there and proceeded to let us right in! She told us her life story, where she is spiritually right now, and what she expects from a church. I can't even begin to explain what a powerful lesson and discussion we had! She told us she just feels stuck and like she needs a, and I quote, "restoration of her body and spirit"....she is separated from her husband, her daughter is 12, she was offended by the church she used to attend and wants to feel a part of a family. When we asked if we could call her Sister Babcock, she got so excited and hugged us for about 5 minutes each! I'm so grateful we were able to find her and at the right time and have that experience with her! OH!...and if we would've waited untilSaturday to check up on her and do some finding in LoneTree like we had planned; we found out that she would not be in townSaturday and Sunday... the Lord works in mysterious ways! The church is true! haha.

We are staying busy and trying to stay healthy! :)

I just want you all to know that I KNOW the gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings the most peace and happiness into my life, and in my family's life. I'm so grateful to know that we will be together forever. I know that it is through Jesus Christ, our savior, that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven as we continuously strive to be better and become like Him. I know that it's not always easy, but it's always worth it.

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston

Taylor's awesome postcard with my wonderful art skills...

getting fancy with the nails on pday! haha...I was quite proud of myself!

Happy August everyone!

First of all, I'd like to with my mommy a happy happy happy birthday this past Sunday. I am so blessed to have her in my life...I don't know what I would do without her example, craziness, and spunk! :) hehe. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

This past week has been hectic, but good! Wednesday we had interviews with President Jensen which was nice. The Zone Leaders had called Sister Lloyd and I Tuesday evening while we were on exchanges and asked if we would train while other were being interviewed...so that was an adventure and a half! haha. Let's just say, this church is true, and the spirit is real! :) I ended up training all about love, and how we should always strive to be like our Savior Jesus Christ. He was the perfect example, perfect teacher... I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am to know that I have a big brother like Him to look up to and who I can rely on. On Tuesday, we had a cool lesson with Trisha; and read the Inconvenient Messiah...wow... if you haven't read it, I highly suggest it! :) I was reminded how the Savior was never asked to do anything that was convenient for Him, yet he never complained and He never gave in to temptation. This life wasn't meant to be easy, for if it were easy we would never grow and become better and become worthy of living with our Father in Heaven again.

After interviews we had the interesting experience of moving an investigator to her new apartment...finding out that she hadn't found anyone else to help...we ended up having 8 missionaries, Jacob, and one of the YSA's members help from 4-9! Yeah...it was a little insane, and we may have gone "truck finding" a couple times with no success...but hey! It got done, and we survived! :)

Jacob was baptized Thursday the 1st! What a perfect way to start off the month of August, aye? It was such a beautiful service. He had asked me to speak on baptism so I pulled out the old water, food coloring, and bleach object lesson which was fun! ...especially since it ended up not tuning all the way back clear and there was a bit of comedic relief with that talk! haha... whoopsies! :) Oh well! Awe man... Jacob is just awesome! ...and on Sunday he was confirmed and the spirit was so strong. I love being able to recognize the spirit more since being here on my mission. It truly is incredible!

Trisha bore her testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting, what a tender mercy that was! :) I am so grateful for the people that I have met, and continue to meet here in Iowa City. I love seeing them change, and come to know for themselves and feel that spirit testifying to them the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it's true. I know that even though sometimes it gets hard and we may be shaken, we can hold on to those simple truths that we know without a doubt to be true. As I remember the many small experiences that have strengthened my testimony, the times that I have felt the spirit testify to me, my faith is renewed and I can continue moving forward. I invite everyone who reads this to remember and write down a couple of those moments in your life, and when things get hard or life seems to darken...hold onto that light.

I'm so grateful for Christ's atoning sacrifice for me, for the power of prayer and direct communication with my Father in Heaven. I'm so grateful for the prayers that I have felt on my behalf, for the endless support and love I feel from all those around me. I'm so grateful that the Lord and our Father in Heaven trusts me to be their servant at this time. I am far from perfect, as we all are, but I know that as we work line upon line, little by little, attribute by attribute, we will become who He needs us to become. This world is scary, and it will only continue getting darker and darker, but I know that as we strengthen our foundations on the Atonement, and trust in our Father in Heaven's plan...we will be guided and protected.

I love you all so much, and am eternally grateful for you and for this time that I have to share the gospel and bring true happiness to the people here.

Love Always,

Sister Alston